Joint normal and shear stiffness are critical parameters for evaluating the mechanical behaviour of rock masses in engineering geology and rock mechanics. The accurate estimation of joint normal stiffness and shear stiffness is critical for rock engineering structure. While numerous studies have examined individual testing approaches, the literature lacks a comprehensive, consolidated research that systematically presents all available testing methods. This study systematically reviews and summarizes methodologies for determining \({k}_{n}\) and \({k}_{s}\) through a combination of bibliometric and systematic literature review techniques. A dataset of 376 articles was collected from Scopus, Google Scholar, and other databases, of which approximate 76 relevant articles were finalized using PRISMA protocols. Destructive techniques, such as uniaxial compressive strength testing on jointed specimens, and non-destructive approaches, including ultrasonic wave transmission and dynamic elastic analysis, were examined for \({k}_{n}\) estimation. For shear stiffness, the study critically evaluates experimental methods using direct shear testing under various boundary conditions, and analytical models including the secant, tangent, best-fit chord, hyperbolic, and ASTM D5607-16 methods. The review also highlights the significance of the Joint Roughness Coefficient in influencing shear strength, with attention to both empirical formulations and recent advancements in roughness quantification. By integrating bibliometric insights with technical evaluations, this review offers a comprehensive framework for understanding rock joint behaviour and provides direction for future research, particularly in the application of standardized testing protocols, numerical modelling, and emerging AI-driven approaches.
